Clothes-rack.



J. R.. CRIST.

CLOTHES RACK.

- APPLICATION FILED SEPT-23. 1915.

1,261,363. Patented Apr. 2, 1918.

WITNESSES ATTORN EY Jl'OSEPH R. CRIST, 0F HABDWICK, MINNESOTA.

CLOTHES-BACK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 2, 191% Application filed September 28. 1916. Serial No.raises.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH R. CRIST, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hardwick, in the county of Rock and State of Minnesota, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Clothes-Racks, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to garment racks, and aims primarily to provide aportable clothes stand capable of being conveniently carried in a trunk,satchel or suit case.

A further object of the invention is to provide a stand of thischaracter which has its trunk or body portion formed of a plurality .ofsections arranged in such manner as to permit of folding or collapsingthe device so as to occupy but a small amount of space. Furthermore, theinvention aims to provide improved means for detachably connecting rackmembers and legs to the said body so that the collapsed stand will 'forma compact bundle free of projecting elements. A still further object isto provide a device of this character which may be manufactured atextremely lowcost, which may be quickly set up. or collapsed, and whichis equipped with improved locking means for holding the trunk portion ofthe device rigid when set up.

With these objects in view, together with others which will appear asthe description proceeds, the invention resides in the novelformation,combination and arrangement of parts, all as will be described morefully hereinafter, illustrated in the drawings, and particularly pointedout in the claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of a clothes stand or rackconstructed in accordance with the invention, the view showing the samein set up position,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the top portion of the trunkwith one of the clothes arms removed,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of one end of one of the clothesarms,

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a portion of the bottom section of thetrunk, and illustrating a socket for securing one of the supporting legsthereto,

Fig. 5 is a side-elevation showing one end of one of the legs, and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showingthe clothes rack infolded orcollapsed state.

Referrin now more particularly to the drawings, indicates the bottom orbase section ofthe stand, and 8 the to section, while 9 and 10 representrespectively the intermediate sections. These sections may be formedeither of wood or metal, and are preferably of small dimension in crosssection. The various sections of the trunk portion of the rack are ofequal length, and are hinged to each other as at 11 in successive order.The hinges l1 connect the adjacent ends of the sections in such manneras will permit of the trunk of the device being folded into the shapeillustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings. Hooks 12 are arranged-upon thevarious sections to hold the same rigidly when the device is in adjustedor set up position, the said hooks being adapted for engagement with thestuds 13 on the adjacent section end.

To form a suitable base for the device when extended, and to preventthestand becoming readily rendered top heavy or unbalanced, legs 1 1 areprovided. These legs are relatively short in length, and are eachprovided at their ends with beveled faces so as to fit flush against theside of the lowermost section of the stand and upon a floor surface whenpropped against the trunk. I preferably provide four of these legs, onefor each of the four faces of the bottom section. The bottom section hasits various sides cut away and covered with metallic plates 15, the saidplates having formed therein keyhole'slots 16, for the reception ofheads 17 formed upon and projecting outwardly from certain of thebeveled faces of the leg ends. The arrangement is such that when thelegs are properly attached to the base section, the

weight of the rack will force the base downjecting outwardly from theextremities of the rack arms 21. The arrangement issuch that the weightof the arms forces the heads downwardly into the restricted portions ofthe, keyhole slots, whereby accidental dehole slots 19 therein, toreceive heads 20 prov cent ends of the said sections,

tachment of the arms is prevented. Obviously, the arms may be readilyremoved when it is desired that the device be collapsed.

From the foregoing it is apparent that I have provided an extremelysimple and yet thoroughly practical clothes stand, and one which, whennot in use, will occupy but a small amount of space. The device may bevery conveniently carried in a trunk or hand grip, and will be readilyavailable at all times for traveling persons.

While the above is a description of the preferred embodiment of theinvention, it is apparent that various changes may be made in thevarious details of the construction, if desired, without departing fromthe spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is 1. A clothes rack comprising a body formed of aplurality of sections rectangular in cross section, hinges connectingthe adjathe outer sections being hinged to their adjacent sections so astoswing in the same direction, and the intermediate sections beinghinged together at their adjacent ends so as to swing in directions atright angles to the direction of movement of the said outer sections.

2. A clothes rack com-prising a body formed of a plurality of sectionsrectangular in cross section, hinges connecting the adjacent ends of thesaid" sections the outer sections being hinged to their adjacentsections so as to swing in the same direction, the intermediate sectionsbeing hinged to-' gether so as to swing at right angles to the directionof movement of the said outer sections, the. various sections, being ofequal length, and hooks on certain of said sections for holding the sameengaged with the next adjacent sections.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH R. ORIST.

Witnesses FEED ANDERSON, ROBERT ROBERTS.

